Although December is a month when many people are preparing for the end-of-year festivities there is still much to be enjoyed in the garden.
Several shrubs produce coloured or scented flowers, or brightly coloured stems. Planting winter-scented shrubs close to the path means you’ll be able to appreciate them when walking to and from the house. Also, the brightly coloured leaves and stems of other shrubs can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home.
Here are ten of the best for this time of year:-
1. Lonicera fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle)
There is almost nothing better than the sweet smell of Winter honeysuckle in the air for December gardens. The flowers appear before the leaves and last for many weeks on this trouble-free deciduous shrub. Cut back after flowering, removing around one-third of the flowered stems. Then mulch around the base of the plant in spring.
- Flowers from December to March
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 2m tall and 3m wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed
2. Ilex aquifolium ‘Argentea marginata’ (Holly)
Hollies that produce bright red berries come into their own at this time of year. And this cultivar has the added advantage of silver marks on the leaf margins. This gives it year-round interest. The stems are great for flower arrangements, and they cope well with pollution and coastal sites. To be certain of berries it’s best to plant a male holly nearby.
- Flowers from May to June
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 15m tall and 4m wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed or sheltered
3. Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ (Christmas berry)
This is a very adaptable, medium-sized, evergreen shrub with the added bonus of shiny, bright red young leaves. It can be pruned into a standard, planted as a focal point shrub or en masse as screening or hedging.
- Flowers from April to May
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 4m tall and 4m wide
- Well-drained, light, sandy soil
- Full sun or dappled shade
- Exposed
4. Clematis ‘Christmas Surprise’ (Clematis)
Many clematis are summer flowering. However, there are a few, such as ‘Christmas Surprise,’ that will start to flower this month and continue for several weeks. The flowers are creamy-coloured and bell-shaped. Plus, they look good left to scramble through the branches of an established large, deciduous shrub. Borderline hardy, it’s best to give it protection by planting in front of a wall or fence.
- Flowers from December to February
- Borderline hardy
- Grows to 250cm tall and 200cm wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed or sheltered
5. Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)
This is the ideal, low-growing, evergreen plant for areas of dry shade where little else will grow. Its leaves are glossy and dark green with serrated edges. They form dense mats as they establish making it the perfect choice for ground cover. Come early summer, upright clusters of tiny, white flowers appear, contrasting beautifully with the dark green foliage.
- Flowers from May to June
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 20cm tall and 100cm wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Part shade deep shade
- Exposed
6. Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca ‘Citrina’ (Scorpion Vetch)
This delightfully compact, dainty evergreen shrub deserves to be far more widely grown in the winter garden. An initial burst of sweetly scented, pale lemon flowers are produced late winter. These are repeated sporadically well into spring and sometimes again in late summer. It is borderline hardy and so benefits from the protection of a sunny- south-facing wall.
- Flowers from December to February
- Borderline hardy
- Grows to 100cm tall and 100cm wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Sheltered
7. Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ (Mahonia)
Another easy to care for, winter-flowering evergreen shrub. It makes a great focal point when planted at the back of a border. It has shiny leaves and slender spikes of bright yellow, scented flowers followed by bunches of round, dark purple berries.
- Flowers from November to March
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 5m tall and 4m wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Part shade deep shade
- Exposed
8. Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ (Christmas Box)
A new hybrid form, which has inherited the best qualities of both its parents. It has larger than average leaves, which are a glossy, rich green. And highly scented white flowers in winter that are followed by spherical, glossy, red berries that ripen to black. Tough and tolerant of most conditions, it is especially valuable for shadier areas.
- Flowers from December to March
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 50cm tall and 50cm wide
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Light shade to deep shade
- Exposed
It’s the evergreen leaves rather than the flowers that make heucheras such desirable plants providing year-round colour in the garden. Fire Alarm, has, as the name implies, mounds of orange-red leaves. The flowers are produced during the summer months and are small and pink-tinged.
- Flowers from June to August
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 250cm tall and 250cm wide
- Fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed
This deciduous shrub comes into its own during the winter months after the leaves have fallen revealing bright, cheerful, red-tipped, orange-red stems guaranteed to brighten the dullest of wintery December gardens!
- Flowers May to June
- Fully hardy
- Grows to 2m tall and 3m wide
- Well-drained, moisture retentive soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed or sheltered
This December, make sure your garden looks bright and inviting with these plant recommendations.
Find out the best veg to grow this month:
Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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